Here is a summary of the podcast transcript hosted by Dylan Lewis, published on October 30, 2026:
### **SpaceX & Starlink News**
* **FCC Direct-to-Device (D-to-D) Proposal:** The FCC proposed rules to modernize direct-to-device services in licensed spectrum to promote flexible arrangements and incentivize high-quality service. Key aspects include:
* Increasing the number of authorized bands for SCS (Starlink) from 5 up to 13, making an additional 482 MHz of spectrum available for use via leases or direct ownership.
* Eliminating burdensome SCS requirements that required routine waivers, as well as removing geographic independent area and lease requirements. This allows operators to define custom geographic areas rather than large rigid zones like the contiguous US, and replaces formal leases with simple carrier coexistence certifications or direct land ownership.
* Harmonizing SCS and mobile satellite service (MSS) rules to codify exclusive rights and protections for MSS bands previously purchased by Starlink.
* Rejecting the big three telecom providers' requests to remove important 2.5 to 3.5 gigahertz bands from the SCS framework.
* The comment period runs into early 2027, with final rules potentially effective in the second half of 2027.
* **SpaceX Criticisms of T-Mobile and AFTRCC:** SpaceX filed a letter attacking T-Mobile and the AFTRCC (Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council), describing AFTRCC as a lobbying organization protecting legacy companies. SpaceX criticized T-Mobile for pushing antiquated rules that would create 400+ kilometer buffer zones around base stations, disenfranchising millions from direct-to-cell service, and argued for uniform global rules.
* **Louisiana Starbase Expansion:** Thousands of acres (specifically six parcels adding up to about 4,000 acres owned by the Vermillion Parish School District) adjacent to the upcoming Starbase, Louisiana spaceport could soon be acquired by SpaceX for employee housing, staging, warehousing, engineering, and access roads following appraisal and negotiations.
* **Starship Flight 15 Updates:** Elon Musk noted Starship 42 will be the first tower catch. Ship 42 completed a full-duration six-engine static fire and simulated a deorbit burn with a single Raptor engine. Both vehicles completed major engine tests, keeping a dual-catch attempt on track for before Thanksgiving, pending regulatory clearance.
### **Tesla News**
* **Tesla Semi Fire in Hayward, California:** A pre-production 2022 Tesla Semi operated by Frito-Lay caught fire for unknown reasons with no crash involved and no injuries. The driver exited unharmed. Traffic was backed up, and all lanes reopened about 10 hours later. The truck used older 2170 cells, a different drivetrain, and an older thermal management system compared to current production Semis using 4680 cells and the mega manifold heat pump. Dylan Lewis emphasized the need for Tesla to investigate and report on the diagnostic data.
* **Tesla Robotaxi & Cybercab Expansion:**
* In Houston and Dallas, Tesla is offering riders their first ride for free.
* An additional 29 cybercabs were added, bringing the total fleet in Texas to 573, and the total fleet count to 1,080.
* Some downtown Houston geofence areas showed squirrely navigation issues around train tracks, and certain blacked-out rocket regions are not yet active for drop pins.
* The Houston Police Officers Union shared support for the service expansion.
* Tesla hosted an Accessibility Day last week for the disabled community to gather feedback for Cybercab and future products.
* Tesla is hiring market attendant leads for RoboTaxi charging in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Orlando, Miami, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, and Austin to oversee attendants physically plugging in vehicles at high-usage supercharger sites ahead of 24-7 operations.
* **Global FSD and Regulatory Updates:**
* **Vietnam:** Tesla is hiring for sales, service, and charging roles in Vietnam, where EV sales make up about 40% of new car sales ($550,000 annual market). Due to import duties and local competition like Vinfast, Dylan Lewis estimates initial annual sales of a few hundred to a few thousand units, growing to 10,000–20,000 units per year by the 2030s.
* **Italy:** The Minister of Transport had a positive conversation with Elon Musk, expressing strong interest in assisted driving tech and supporting swift EU approval for Tesla FSD.
* **Population Metrics for FSD Approval:** Germany (18.5%) and Italy (~13%) combined with the 10 states already approving FSD (15%) would bring the total to 46% of the required population, leaving 19% left to pass of the 65% needed.
* **South Korean FSD Lawsuit Win:** A South Korean court ruled in favor of Tesla in a lawsuit filed by owners who bought FSD between 2019 and 2022 and sought refunds for failing to fulfill obligations. The court ruled the FSD purchase contract is an indefinite-term contract dependent on regulatory approval and technological advancement, and since Tesla shipped other assisted driving features like Enhanced Autopilot in the interim, Tesla had no liability for defects.
* **Industry Commentary on Vision-Only:** GM Chief Product Officer Sterling Anderson criticized dropping radar for camera-only systems as a "weird religious stance that ignores physics," arguing cameras cannot see through dense fog or measure instantaneous velocity like radar. Dylan Lewis dismissed Anderson's comments, pointing out Anderson's past employment at Tesla, a prior settled lawsuit by Tesla against Anderson for downloading proprietary data, and his potential "bone to pick."
* **Terafab Operations:** Representatives from Tesla and SpaceX attending Semicon West reported striking execution speeds, receiving responses to inquiries within 30 minutes to an hour from empowered engineers.
* **Stock Performance:** Tesla stock closed at $403.30 (down 0.23%), SpaceX closed at $143.89 (down 0.92%), and the NDX was down 1.38%. Dylan Lewis expects a typical breather after the recent run-up.
### **Waymo News**
* **Q3 2026 Financials:** Alphabet’s "other bets" division, which includes Waymo, reported $372 million in revenue and a loss of $2.05 billion for Q3 2026. Compared to Q3 2025, revenue increased by $26 million, but losses widened by an extra $621 million. The CFO explicitly linked operating losses to Waymo's expansion.
* **Waymo Outlook:** Dylan Lewis believes Waymo's financial losses are unsustainable and that this marks the "beginning of the end" of Waymo as Alphabet questions how long to fund a losing business, referencing recent public edge-case clips of Waymo vehicles getting stuck sideways in roads.
### **Other News & Sponsor Messages**
* **EV Tax Credit Bill:** A bill sponsored by Democrats for a new version of the EV tax credit has a 0% chance of becoming law before 2029 while Trump is in office, regardless of midterm outcomes.
* **Delete Me Sponsorship:** Dylan Lewis urged listeners to use sponsor Delete Me (`joindeliteme.com/electrified`) to monitor and remove personal data from data broker sites, noting that FTC fraud losses hit a record $16 billion in 2025 (a 25% increase from 2024). He also shared three cybersecurity tips: verify email domains, restart cell phones weekly to clear temporary malware memory, and Google yourself.